New chapter begins, as leadership torch gets handed down

Just months after sweeping all the gold medals at the Paris Olympics, Chinese table tennis isn't resting on its laurels. With the Los Angeles 2028 Games three years away, the sport is already stepping boldly into the future — a hallmark of its enduring dominance: never dwelling on past glory, never fearing change.

On Wednesday, a symbolic passing of the torch took place, as Wang Liqin, former Olympic and world champion, was named president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, succeeding Chinese table tennis icon Liu Guoliang.

Wang steps into the role at a critical juncture, facing Olympic format changes, ongoing cultural shifts in the sport, and the ever-present challenge of maintaining China's grip on global table tennis.